Apparatus for dyeing, scouring, or otherwise treating yarn and other fibers in the hank or skein



een l, H. M. DUDLEY APPARATUS FOR DYEING, SCOURING, OR OTHERWISE TREATING YARN AND OTHER FIBERS IN THE HANK OR SKEIN Filed Aug. 5, 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet l /NVENTOR ,5l9,769 H. M. DUDLEY scoURING, 0R OTHERWISE TREATI-NG YARN AND APPARATUS FOR DYEING,

OTHER FIBERS IN THE HANK OR SKEIN Filed Aug. 5, 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 R m W W Dec, 16, i924. @,gf.

H, M. DUDLEY APPARATUS Fon DYEING, scoURING, 0R OTHERWISE TREATING YARN AND OTHER FIBERs 1N THE HANK 0R sKEIN ATTOR l "Y Dec, T69 3924. 1,519,769

H. M. DUDLEY APPARATUS FOR DYEING, SCOURING, OR OTHERWISE TREATING YARN AND OTHER FIBERS IN THE HANK OR SKEIN Filed Aug. 5, 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 l v J INI/ENTOR.

awfda@ WITNESS:

Dec. i6, 1924. l,519,769

H. M. DUDLEY APPARATUS FOR DYEING, SCOURING, 0R OTHERWISE TREATING YARN AND OTHER FIBERS IN THE HANK 0R SKEIN Filed Aug. 5, 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 WITNESS: /IVVENTOR i jfoara BY l" i Patented Dec.7 16, 1924.

UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ASSIGNMENTS, T0 THE FIFTH AVENUE BANK O'F NEW YORK,

A CORPORATIUN 0F NEW YORK.

APPARATUS FOR DYEING, SCOURING, 0R FIBERS IN THE Application led August To all whom it may concern:

Be it'known that l, HOWARD M. DUDLEY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Dyeing, Scouring, or Otherwise Treating Yarn and Other Fibers in the Hank or Skein, of which the following is a specication.

My invention relates more particularly to that type of machine in which the hanks or skeins of yarn or liber to be dyed or otherwise treated, are suspended from sticks and dip into a closed tank or chamber containing the dyeing or treating liquid, and in which provision is made :tor moving suoli liquid; preferably in a plurality of directions in order that all portions of such skeins or hanks of yarn or other fibers shall be subjected equally to the action of the same.

A further object of my invention is to provide a vertically movable frame or support for the yarn-carrying sticks, suoli frame or support being so mounted within the closed chamber that when the dyeing or treating liquid is being moved therein in one direction, it will have a tendency to lift said sticks, and the yarn with the same, and 1n such action will cause a separation between the sticks and the yarn supported thereby at the point of contact, whereby such contacting portion, which is more or less difficult of access by the liquid, shall receive as great an amount of contact with the liquid as the balance of the skein or hank- A further object of my invention is the provision of means :tor retaining the yarn or fiber-carrying sticks in the frame or suport isplaceable to permit ready insertion or removal of such sticks, and additionally are provided with means whereby they may be locked in thev stick-retaining position.

rilhese and other features of my invention are more fully described hereinafter, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l, is a longitudinal sectional view of one form of apparatus to which my invention may be applied; showing also one form of means lfor effecting movement of the therefor; which retaining means are.

OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,

OTHERWISE TREATING YARN AND OTHER AHANK OR. SKEIN.'

8,1921. lSerial No. 489,934.

Fig. 3, is a similar longitudinal sectional view of another form of apparatus to which my invention may be applied; the means for effecting movement of the liquid bein also disposed externally of the tank, but di ering from the means shown in Fig. 2.

Figs. a, 5 and 6, are sectional views on the lines lV-lV; V-Vg and Vl-Vl, Figs. 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Figs. 7, 8 and 9, are enlarged views illustrating my improved form of rame or support `for the yarn or fiber-carrying sticks, in plan and side elevations, respectively.

Figs. 10, 11 and 12, are cross-sectional views on the lines X--X; Xl--Xl and XIF-XH, Fig. 8, respectively, and

Figs. 13 and 14., are diagrammatic views illustrating the position of the hanks or skeins of yarn or ber with respect to the carrying sticks during the circulation of the dyeing or treating liquid in opposite directions.

ln the structure illustratedv in Fig. l, l represents a closed vat or tank in which the skeins or hanks of yarn or fiber may be treat ed, and which may be divided into a pair of chambers 2 and 3, by a partition a; the chamber 2, constituting the hank or skein receiving chamber, and the chamber 3, containing a propeller wheel 5, the rotation o' which serves to move or circulate the liquid, through said chambers 2 and 3, and in proper contact with the hanks or skeins of yarn or ber suspended in said chamber 2.

A The propeller wheel may be mounted upon a vertical shaft 6, passing through-the cover 7, of the tank, and .it may be provided with any suitable form of driving mechanism, with provision for driving the shaft in two directions. As may be readily understood, movement of said propeller wheel in the direction of arrow a will cause the liquid to move downwardly in the chamber 2 and uplUU wardly in the chamber 3; passing under the partition 4, while movement of said propeller wheel in the direction of the arrow I).

sticks 10, which sticks are in turn supportedv by a suitable frame. This frame may comprise side rails 11, apertured at 12, to receive the ends of the yarn carrying sticks, and the ends of these side rails 11, are in turn mounted in box-like supports 13, disposed adjacent the ends of the chamber 2; such rails being Ifree to rise and fall within said box-like supports, for a limited extent under the influence of the liquid when the latter is moved through the respective chambers.

The sticks l() are held against endwise movement by means of locking plates 15, extending longitudinally of the side rails 11, and supported by guide housings 16, carried by said rails; said plates and rails being apertured or recessed at 17 and 18, respectively, for the reception of retaining pins 19, adapted to hold said locking plates in place. When it is desired to remove any one or more of the yarn carrying sticks,

1 these locking plates may be lifted and lheld in the upper part of the housings or guides 16 by said pins 19. As shown in Figs, 7, 8 and 9, I may employ round sticks, indicated at l0, or rectangular yarn-carrying sticks, indicated at 10a.

The pairs of box-like supports 13, at the respective ends of the chamber 2, and in which the ends of the side rails 11 are supported, may be connected together by cross bars 20, whereby said box-like supports and the yarn or fiber-carrying frame mounted therein may be bodily suspended within the chamber 2, by bolts .21, secured to the cover 7. In addition, supports 22, depend from the box-like members 13; the lower ends of these supports 22 carrying rails 23, adjustably secured to said supports by pins 2l, and having cross sticks 25, which pass through the lower portion of the hanks or skeins of yarn or liber and restrain the same from excessive upward movement when the liquid in the1 chamber 2 is caused to move in an upward direction.

Disposed above the yarn-carrying sticks is a oraminous partition comprising a. plurality of cross bars 8", carried by rails 9, which may be mounted on the cross bars 20 connecting the box-like supports 13.

By providing a movable frameor rack for supporting the yarn-carrying sticks, the

latter are free to rise a limited extent when the liquid is circulated upwardly with respect to the skeins or hanks of yarn; -the extent. of such movement being clearly indicated in the diagrammatic views Figs. 13 and 14. By this means, the yarn is lifted at intervals from its contact thereby permitting full engagement by the dyeing or treating liquid, and avoiding the danger of stick marks frequently occurring because of the close engagement of the skein or hank of yarn with the sticks by reason of the weight of the same when saturated with the dyeing or treating li uid.

In the type of structure lllustrated in Fig. 1, I have shown a submerged propeller 5, as the means for moving or circulating the dyeing or treating liquid within ythe tank or vat. It will be understood, of course, that I may employ a plurality of propellers instead of a single one, if desired, and that in this arrangement the liquid moving or circulating means are located wholly within the main tank or vat.

In the structureshown in Fig. 2, the circulating means for the dyeing or treating liquidare disposed externally of the tam.' and they may comprise a conduit 26, communicating with a pair of passages 27 and 28, provided with valves 29 and 30, and forming alternately inlet and discharge passages whereby the liquid may be moved in either direction in the dyeing or treating chamber as may be desired; a rotary pump 31, suitably driven, being preferably employed to move the liquid. The arrangement of the yarn-carrying sticks and accessories is substantially the same as illustrated in Fig. l.

In the structure shown in Fig. 3, means disposed externally of the tank or vat for moving'the liquidy through the dyeing or, treating chamber in opposite directions are also shown. Such means preferably include a casing 35 of special character, vhaving a mid section 36, substantially circular in cross-section, which mid section broadens outwardly and Hattens toward the upper and lower portion of the dyeing or treating chamber to form the passages 37 and 38, the discharge outlets 37a and 38a, thereof,

being substantially rectangular and elon-I gated and registering with ports or openings 39 and 40, forme-d in the end wall 3a of the dyeing or treating chamber. Thecombined inlet and outlet ports or openings 39 and 40 are disposed above and below the hanks or skeins of yarn or liber, and such ports or openings have an area substantially equal to the cross sectional area of the circular mid portion 36 of said casing, intermediate the passages 37 and 38.

Suitably disposed in the casing 35, preferably at the circular mid section of the same,` is a propeller wheel 41, carried by a with the sticks, l

shaft 42, which may be journaled in suitable bearings 43 and 43, carried by said casing, and motion to turn said shaft may be imparted by a belt 44, from any suitable form of driving means; such belt passi over a pulley 45, carried by the end of sai shaft 42. When driven in one direction, that indicated by the arrow a', for instance, the liquid will be moved in the direction indicated by the arrows m; bein drawn out of the lower portion of the dyeing or treating chamber through the port 40, into the passage 38, and dischar ed by said propeller through the passage 3 ,and port 39, into the u er part of dyeing or treating chamber. en the Wheel is driven in the direction of the arrow the li uid will be driven out. of the top of the dyeing or treating chamber in the direction of the arrows y, indicated by dotted lines.

While A l have described a propeller mounted upon a horizontal shaft and disposed in the circular mid section of the eX- ternal casingfor movin the liquid in the dyeing chamber, it will e understood that such propeller may be mounted upon a vertical shaft; the casinoA being modified accordingly, and such siaft being driven so as to move the liquid from said casing through the dyeing or treating chamber in two directions. ln all instances, however, such movement ot the liquid takes place in a casing disposed externally of the dyeing or treating chamber.

ln order that the liquid may be prevented from setting up currents or eddies which would tend to pass through one portion of the hanks or skeins and omit other portions oit' the same, the interior of the dyeing or treating chambers is provided with a series of baille plates 46 and 47; those indicated at. 4G being carried by the top or cover 7 ot' the dyeing or treating chamber, while those indicated at 47 being carried at the bottom of the chamber. lt will be understood, of course, that a greater or less number ot baiie plates, capable o performing the desired function, may be employed, as desired.

lllhile l have referred to my apparatus as applied to the dyeing ot hanks or skeins of yarn or other bers, it will be understood, of course that such apparatus may be employed' in the washing ot skeins or hanks or yarn or other fibers, olr such other treatment with liquid body to which it may be desirable to subject such skeins or hanks.

lt claim:

l. ln fiber-treating apparatus, the combination of a liquid-containing chamber, a movable trame within said chamber comprising a plurality of fiber-carrying sticks and a plurality of rai'ls in which the ends of said sticks are mounted, supports for the ends of said rails; such supports providing for vertical movement of the' rails With respect to the same, means carried by the rails for preventing endwise movement of the sticks, and means for circulating liquid in two directions through said liquid-containing chamber; the movement of the li( uid i in one direction tending to lift the ber carrying sticks and the hanks or skeins supported thereby; said hanks or skeins being also lifted from said sticks by the ymovement of the liquid. y

2. ln fiber-treating apparatus, the combination ot' a. liquid-containing chamber, a movable frame within said chamber comprising a plurality of fiber-carrying sticks and a plurality of rails in which the ends of said sticks are mounted, supports for the ends of said rails; such supports providing for movement of the rails with respect to the same, means carried by the rails for preventing endwise movement of the sticks, and means disposed externally of the apparat-us for circulatingliquid in two directions through said'liquid-containing chamber; the movement of the lliquid in one direction tending to lift the ber-carrying sticks and the hanks or skeins supported thereby; said hanks or skeins |being also lifted from said sticks.

3. ln ber-treating apparatus, the combination of a supporting trame, a pair of rails mounted for limited vertical movement with respect to said frame, ibencarrying sticks detach-ably supported in said rails, displaceable retaining means normally holding said liber-carrying sticks in place, and means for holding said stick-retaining means against movement with respect to said rails.

4. lin liber-treating apparatus, the combination of a liquid-containing chamber, a I

supporting tranne removably mounted with respect to the same, a pair ot' rails carried by said supporting frame and vmounted for limited movement with respect to the same independent et any movement of the frame, fiber-carrying sticks having their ends dctachably supported in said rails, displaceable plates extending longitudinally ot' said rails and normally retaining said liber-carrying sticks in place, guide housings for said retaining plates in which they may be moved to active and inactive positionswith respect to said sticks, and means for securing said plates to the rails in the respective positions.

5. ln ber-treating apparatus, the comlbination of a pair of rails, supports for the same, in which said rails are tree for limited vertical movement, a. Jforaminous partition connected to said supports, and disposed above said movable rails, ber-carrying sticks detachably supported in said rails, guide housings carried by said rails and secured at top and bottom to the same, dis- -supported above said movable rails, liber carrying sticks detachably supported in saidV rails, guide housings carried by said rails and secured at the top and bottormrto the same, displaceable retaining means carried by the rails confined by said housings and`\..

normally holding said liber carrying sticks in place, and means for preventing movement of said displaceable means.'

7. In liber-treating apparat-us, the combinationof a plurality of rails, supporting means for the ends of said rails in which said rails are free for vertical movement,.

-and fiber-carrying sticks detachably supsticks being bodily movable with respect to ported in said rails, said rails and fiber-carrying sticks being b odi'ly movable with respect to said supports under the inuence ofthe pressure of the liquid when the latter is moving in one direction.

8. In iiberftreating apparatus, the combination of a plurality of rails, supporting means for the ends of said rails in which Said rails are free 'for vertical movement, ber-carrying sticks detachably supported in said rails, and a oraminous partition 'supported above said sticks; said partition, supporting means, rails, and sticks being bodily movable With respect to the receptacle in which such fiber is treated. v

9. In a fiber-treating apparatus, the combination of a plurality of rails, supporting means for the ends of said rails, fiber-carrying sticks detachably supported in said rails, means for holding said sticks to the rails; said rails being free for vertical movement, a foraminous partition supported adjacent said rails; said partition, supporting means and rails being bodily movable With respect to the receptacle in which such fiber is treated, and means for moving liquid in two directions through the liber carried by said sticks.

10. In a fiber-treating apparatus, the-combination of a chamber, a plurality of rails mounted therein, supporting means for the ends of said rails in which said rails are freev for vertical movement, liber-carrying sticks supported 1n sald rails, means for clrculatmg liquid through said chamber; sa1d rails and the receptacle in which such fiber is treated when the liquid is moved in one direction, and means for preventing undue rise of the lower portion of the hanks or skeins of fiber When the liber-carrying sticks are lifted.

11. In a fiber-treating machine, the combination of a supporting frame, a plurality -wise movement.

v12. In a fiber-treating machine, the combination of a plurality of rails having apertures therein, fiber-carrying sticks detachably mounted in said rails With their ends resting in the apertures thereof, a locking plate, and means for holding the locking plate upon one of said rails in locking or unlocking position.

13. In a fiber-treating machine, the combination of a plurality of rails having apertures therein, fiber-carrying sticks detachably mounted in lsaid rails with their ends resting in the apertures thereof, a lockingplate, guide housings for said locking plate; said housings being so disposed with respect to the rails that the locking pla-tes Will be supported'thereby in a locking position, and lneans for holding the locking plate upon one of said rails in locking or unlocking position.

14. In ber-treating apparatus, .a fibersupporting structure comprising a plurality of box-like supports, a Aplurality of vertically movable rails having their ends mounted in said supports, removable liber-carrying sticks mounted in said rails, and displaceable means for holding said sticks to the rails.

15. In ber-treating apparatus, a {ibersupporting structure comprising a foraminous partition, supports connected with the same, vertically movable rails having their ends mounted in said supports, removable fiber-carrying sticks mounted in said rails, and displaceable means for holding said stiqks against movement with respect to the ral s.

16. In iber-treating apparatus, a liber-1 supporting structure comprising a foraminous partition, supports connected with the same, vertically movable rails having their ends mounted in said supports, removable berfcarrying sticks mounted in said rails, displaceable means for holding said sticks to the rails, and means forvlocking said displaceable means in position.

, 17. In a fiber-treating apparatus, the combination of a closed tank having a removable top or cover, a plurality ot'l rails, supporting means for the ends of said rails carried by said cover and removable therewith, iibercarrying sticks detachably supported in said` rails; said rails being free for vertical movement with respect to their supports, and

lll

Lerares means for circulating liquid in two directions through the hanks or skeins supported by said fiber carrying sticks.

18. ln a fiber-treating apparatus, the combination of a tank having a closed chamber with a removable top or cover, a plurality of rails mounted in said chamber, supporting means for the ends of said rails in which said rails are free for vertical movement, said supporting means being connected to said cover and removable therewith, fibercarrying sticks supported in said rails, means for circulating liquid through said chamber; said rails and sticks being bodily movable with respect to the receptacle in which such fiber is treated when the liquid is circulated in one direction whereby the hanks or skeins supported by the sticks may be separated therefrom at intervals.

19. The combination, in a dyeing machine, having a closed dyeing or treating chamber, of a frame therein for supporting hanks or skeins of yarn or fiber, such frame being vertically movable under the iniuence of the moving liquid, and means disposed externally of such chamber for moving the liquid therein in opposite directions, said liquid entering the chamber at the top and discharging at the bottom when moving in one direction, and entering at the bottom and discharging at the top when moving in the opposite direction.

20. The combination, in a dyeing machine, having a closed dyeing or treating chamber, of a frame therein for supporting hanks or skeins of yarn or liber, such frame being vertically movable under the influence of the moving liquid, a compartment disposed externally of such chamber, and means in said compartment for moving the liquid in said chamber in opposite 'directions, said liquid entering the chamber at the top and discharging at the bottom when moving in one direction, and entering at the bottom and discharging at the top when moving in the opposite direction.

21. The combination in a dyeing machine having a dyeing or treating chamber, of means disposed externally of said chamber tor moving the liquid therein in opposite directions, and having conduits extending to spaced points in said chamber, a frame in said chamber for supporting the treated n'iaterial between said spaced points, said trame being bodily movable in opposite directions within said chamber under the influence of the liquid current, the liquid being reversible through said conduit so one conduit is employed to conduct liquid to the chamber when another is employed vto conduct the liquid therefrom, and vice versa.

22. rllhe combination in a. dyeing machine having a dyeing or treating chamber, of means disposed externally of said chamber for moving the liquid therein in opposite directions, and having conduits extending to spaced points in said chamber, a frame in said chamber for supporting the treated material between said spaced points. said frame being bodily movable in opposite directions within said chamber under the influence of the liquid current, the liquid being reversible through said conduit so one conduit is employed to conduct liquid to the chamber when another is employed to conduct the liquid therefrom, and vice versa, and means for deflecting and distributing in said chamber the currents issuing from said conduits.

23. The combination in a dyeing machine having a dyeing or treating chamber, of means disposed externally of said chamber for moving the liquid therein in opposite directions, and having conduits extending to spaced points in said chamber, said liquid moving means including valve mechanism for directing flow from one conduit to the chamber while another conduit receives flow therefrom, or vice versa, a frame in said chamber for supporting the treated material between said spaced points, and being bodily movable in opposite directions within said chamber under the influence of the liquid currents therein.

24. The combination in a dyeing machine having a dyeing or treating chamber, of means disposed externally of said chamber for moving the liquid therein in opposite directions, and having conduits extending to spaced points in said chamber, said liquid moving means including valve mechanism for directing flow from one conduit to the chamber while another conduit receives flow therefrom, or vice versa, a frame in said chamber for supporting the treated material between said spaced points, and being bodily movable in opposite directions Within said chamber under the influence of the liquid currents therein, and means for detlecting and distributing in said chamber the currents issuing from said conduits.

ln witness whereof l have signed this specification.

HOWARD M. DUDLEY. 

